Package of stretch socks



April 7, 956 r J. c. BERRY 2,742,149

PACKAGE 0F STRETCH socxs Filed Dec. 6, 1954 70 '1 740 g? J H \z INVENTORJOHN C. BRRY AGENTS applicationSerial No. 445,041, filed July 22, PatentNo. 2,696,295, directed to a stocking present invention relates toimproved forms ofa stocking Alternatively he may me'nted display table.

'This'form of marketing possesses several disadvanstockings.

Unite 2,742,149 PACKAGE or STRETCH soc s JohnC. Berry, Durham, N. C.Application December 6, 1954, Serial No. 473,293

Claims. 01. 206-79) v The present application is a continuation-in-partof my 1954, now package. The

package. V

t The method of marketing stockings heretofore employed has usually beenfor the manufacturer to secure the two stockings forming a pair toroneanother by means of paper tape or the like. The stockings are thenpackaged several to a box and shipped in this manner to the retailer.The retail dealer then merchandises the stockings by selecting severalrepresentative colors and placing them on a display table forexamination by customers.

place his entirestock on a comparttages, a principal one being theinability of the customer to visualize how a-particular. stockingwillappear or fit when in stretched, wearing condition. This is particularlyundesirable with the advent of the so-called stretch Anotherdisadvantage is that the formof {p 'displaynow employed requiresconsiderable space to V properlypresent the stockings.

procedure results oftentimes in a mixing of sizes and i Moreover,- sucha display colors due to continuous customer handling-which requirescontinuous re-sorting of the stockings to'restore them to their properplace. Further, stockings are quite often separated from their mateswhich oftentimes requires considerable effort to re-mate them, orresults in the loss of a'cornplete pair of stockings.

It has been found that these foregoing and related disadvantages can beeliminated by the provisionof a stocking. package in which twostockingsare applied overi'a single fiat insert by which a I will be retainedthereon in a fairly rigid state withno possibility of the stockingsbecoming separated, and will similarly give to the wearer a visualpresentation of how the stocking will appear in worn condition prior topurchasing the same. p

It is therefore aprincipal object of the present invention to provide astocking package that will present a pleasing appearance'm a customer,and will permit him tofvisualize prior to purchase how the stocking willappear in wearing ,condition, a

Yet another object of the present invention is the provision -of. astocking package that will visually present stretch socks in awearingcondition. x

A still further object of the presentinvention is to provide a stockingpackage that will permit of full display of V fvarious sizes and colorsin a very small area.

-*Another object of the present invention is the provision e of astocking package that permits a retailer to maintain a full complementofstockings in a neat manner for examination by customers without acorresponding disarrange- V ment of the stockings.

Other and-additional objects will become manifest from complete pair ofstockings States Patent 0 Cil ibility. H 1'1" he insert 70 is providedwith a forward or leading edge 2,742,149 Patented Apr. 17, '1956 ice.

the ensuing description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

-To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the presentinvention then consists of the means hereinafter fully described andparticularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawings and thefollowing description setting forth in detail certain means in carryingout of the invention, such disclosed means illustrating,

however, but one of the various ways in which the principle of theinvention may be employed;

The present invention is illustrated by way of example in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a front elevation of animproved form of an insert for use in forming a stocking package made inaccordance-with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a stocking package using the insert shownin Fig. l. i

.Fig. 3 is a front elevation of still another form of a stocking packageusing the insert shown in Fig. 1 to form the package'of the presentinvention. 7

ig. 4 is the stocking package of Fig. 2 in foldedposition.

Fig. 5 is the stocking package of Fig. 3 in' folded position. a

Referring now to the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of a stockingpackage made in accordance with the present invention, and generallydesignated by reference numeral 10, is shown.

The stocking package 19 comprises a flat, oblong strip insert or board'70 of sheet material made preferably from cardboard, chipboard, orrelated paper-type material.

The insert 70 is of a weight and strength sufiicient to support thestockings in a fiat position, and yet retain its rigidity and originalconfiguration when the stockings are and still possess a certain degreeof flexpia'ced thereon 71 and a trailing or rear edge 72, each of whichare generally straight and substantially parallel with respect to oneanother. The lower end of the leading edge 71 and the trailing edge 72are united to one another by means of va rounded toe portion 73. Theupper end of the leading edge 71 and the trailing edge 72 are connectedby a substantially straightedge portion 74. A folding line 7411 may beprovided on the insert 70, if desired. The length of theinser-t 70 mustbe ofa length at least suflicient to "the foot portion and theankleportionof the insert 70 isupporting and engaging the corresponding partsof the stocking 75. This construction will result in the first stocking75"being held in a fiat, extended, and slightly I :tensioned state. Theinsert carrying the first stocking .is positioned within a second ormating stocking 76 in the same maner as the insert 70 was positionedwithin the first stocking '75. This construction results in a flat Istocking package 10 providing a pair of stockings in a 1am, supported,laid out and slightly tensioned state, and

which will present the stocking in a state similar to that when worn andprovides for their shipping, stocking and merchandising without thedisadvantage heretofore encountered.

It will be found advantageous, particularly when the stocking packageiii contains large size stockings, to provide means for reducing thesize of the package to facilitate packing, shippin and storing. While,as hereinbefore stated, the insert 70 must be of a strength sufficientto support the stockingin a substantially rigid or partially erectstate, the insert 7'0 may be'provided, as hereinbefore indicated, with ascore or folding line 74a positioned trans verse to the long axis of theinsert 70 which will permit the stocking package 10 to be folded uponitself to reduce the size of the package, as shown in Figs. 4 and Whilethe folding line 74a may be positioned at any suitable point on theinsert 70, it is preferred, as shown, that it be located atsubstantially themidpoint of the insert 70 so that the stocking packagemay be folded in half, with the bottom and top ends being in substantialalignment with one another. v

Reference is now to be had to Figs. 2 and 4 wherein one form of astocking package utilizing the form of insert of Fig. 1 is shown. Inthis form of the stocking package, the stockings 75 and 76 are placed onthe insert 70 with the heel portion of at least the stocking 76 restingagainst and engaging the fiatface of the insert 70. The insert carrying'the tensioned or slightly stretched stockings in this condition maythen be folded along its folding line 74a upon itself with the heelportion being contained within or between the folded portions of theinsert 70. .Thus

it is possible to eliminate a positive heel portion configuration fromthe insert without departing from the spirit and scope of the broadinvention.

Reference is now to be had to Figs. 3 and 5 wherein another form of astocking package employing so-called stretchable socks with the insert70 is illustrated. The stretchable socks 77, 77a are positioned on theinsert 70 with the heel portion of the stocking resting against thetrailing edge 72 of the insert 70. Thus, it is Possible, particularlywhen using stretchable stockings, such as mens stretch nylon socks, toemploy the insert '70 without leaving too'large a heel bulge along thetrailing edge 72; This is due to the fact that stretchable hose 77 willbe placed on Thus, with no heel portion on the insert, the heel portionwill not be highly stretched in comparison with the remainder of the theinsert in an expanded, tensioned state.

stocking, resulting in the formation of only a small loose heel portionagainst the trailing edge of the insert 70.

It is to be noted that an identification bearing rider or saddle 82 isapplied to the upper portion of the stocking package. It should be notedto further insure the proper retention of the stocking on the insertthat the upper free ends of the stocking may be hooked on the uppercorners of the stocking and the rider placed thereover. Further, in

the formation of the folded stocking, package, the insert may be foldedand a rider employed to engage the a; when a full leg length insert ispositioned therein and placing the stocking in a slightly tensionedstate. Moreover, a leg length insert which would properly support fullto be snagged. However, withhosiery of this type, a

transparent covered package such as shown in my copending parentapplication Serial No. 445,041, now Patent No. 2,696,295, should beused.

Machines for forming the stocking packages are disclosed in my copendingparent application Serial No. 445,041, now Patent No. 2,696,295, as wellas in my copending divisional application Serial No. 564,400, filedFebruary '9, 1956.

I claim: 7 1. A sock package comprising a one-piece, elongated, flatsubstantiallystiii'strip insertof sheet material, said strip inserthaving a substantially straight leading edge and a subsantially straighttrailing edge, said leading edge and said. trailing edge beingsubstantially parallel to one another, a first sock enveloping saidinsert in a flat slightly tensioned state, and a second mating sockenveloping said insert and said first sock in a flat slightly tensionedstate.

2. A sock package in'accordance with claim 1 in which the heel portionof the outer sock is positioned on the fiat face of the insert.

3. A sock package in accordance with claim 1 in which both the inner andouter socks carried by the insert have their heel portions positioned onthe fiat face of the insert.

- 4. A sock package in accordance with claim 1' whereinthe insertisprovided with a folding line positioned transversento the long axis ofsaid insert, said folding line positioned at .a point on said insert topermit the folding of thesock package upon itself so that the bottom ofthe package will be in substantial alignment with the top edge of saidpackage.

5. 1A stretchable sock package comprising a one-piece, elongated, flat,substantially stiff strip insert of sheet material, said insert having asubstantially straight leading edge and a substantially straighttrailing edge, said leading edge and said trailing edge beingsubstantially parallel to one another, afirst stretchable sockenveloping said insert in a flat stretched state and a second matingsock enveloping said insert and said first sock in a flat stretchedstate,

outer surface of the upper end of the insert 70 with the opposite endengaging the outer surface of the toe portio of the sock.

Alternative forms of positioning the rider means are disclosed in detailin my copending parent application Such Serial No. 445,041, now PatentNo. 2,696,295. alternative forms can benused equally well with thestocking package made in accordance with the present invention. I

By the term stocking used herein and in the appended claims,it is usedto define mens, womens, and children sw i socks and stockings of thetype known as ankle socks,.as' well as socks extending as far as partway up on the calf of a wearer, such as argyles; The term stockings isnot to include ladies full fashioned sheer hosiery normally sold in fullleg length as so-called nylons. It has been:==-

, found that the sheerness of such hosiery is likely to result inpossible damage to the yarn by snagging or the like said insert having awidth greater than the normal relaxed width-of said socks when 'in anunstretched state.

. References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

